TROTTING Bonny Venture Has Struck Fine Form

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28490, 21 January 1958, Page 4

TROTTING Bonny Venture Has Struck Fine Form

Bonny Venture is one of the most improved mares in commission in Canterbury this season. She has struck a solid patch of form in the last month and in five starts she has won three times. All five starts have been from A. M. Pardon’s team, which has had only moderate success this season.

Bonny Venture looks as though she will win further races this season and she will be worth following in the next few weeks. Bonny Venture completed a double at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on January 11 and last Saturday. She won in a slow class on the first day of the meeting, beating Johnny Guitar in the Kerrytown Handicap. The stronger company in the South Canterbury Handicap on Saturday did not trouble her. There was considerable changing in positions just in front of her, but she was restrained in about fourth or fifth position over the final mile. Purdon waited with her until the final furlong and she finished full of running to win unextended by a length. It was a most impressive effort, and if she races as boldly next time out, she should not be troubled to win again. Bonny Venture started racing from Purdon’s team at Waimate early last month, but she lost all chance at the start of her race. Then she was produced at Rangiora on December 21. She lost a big stretch of ground in the Cheviot Handicap, but put in a great run over the final three furlongs to beat Kokomo most decisively. Her only other start before the Timaru meeting was at Addington on January 1 when she broke at the start of her race and was pulled up after a mix-up. Bred At Templeton Bonny Venture was bred at Templeton by the well-known horse float operator, Mr J. T. Taylor, who has raced her throughout her career. She is a six-year-old mare by U. Scott from Belle Grattan, by Grattan Loyal from Lady Norris by Lee Norris. Belle Grattan is also the dam of Great Venture, ■an outstanding trotter a few years ago. Great Venture’s wins included a Dominion Trotting Handicap. Belle Grattan also left Belmont Hall, an outstanding pacer a few years ago. He later went to Australia where he is proving a great success at the stud. Belle Grattan’s other progeny include Cellophane, a speedy but unsound pacer, Virtuous and Gloria Bell. Harbinger and Main Topic are other members of this family.

Bonny Venture won two races and was 10 times placed before joining Purdon’s team. She won once as a four-year-old and once last season. . Her win last term was at New Brighton in February when she beat the speedy Shantung in the Improvers’ Handicap. So far Bonny Venture has had 39 starts for five wins and 10 placings worth £1665 10s, of which £993 has been won this season. Back in Invercargill Upward, which failed to strike winning form when trained in Canterbury, is back in work with his former Invercargill trainer, J. A. Flynn. Upward was placed in his first two appearances this season, but he failed to put much heart into the finish of four subsequent starts. The Dillon Hall pacer has plenty of ability and if he can be made to race generously, he should not be long returning to his best.

Costly Favourite Space Patrol was a costly failure in the Fairview Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. He was. pacing easily in fourth position with six furlongs left, but one furlong and a half further on he went to a bad break and did not recover. That was Space Patrol’s first race'since he was runner-up to Fox Able at Oamaru on October 26. In the meantime he had been gelded. The Johnny GlobeGolden Lady gelding looks well at present and he may not be long making amends for that failure. Early Win likely Estelle looks a great prospect for an early win after her narrow defeat by Super Cloud in the Rosewill Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. She gradualy made up her handicap of 36 yards, and, although handy at the half-mile, she had to cover extra ground to work into third position at thei straight entrance. She ran on in grand style and looked to have the race won until Super Cloud came again on the line. Estelle is a four-year-old mare by Medoro from Roydon Star and she is raced by Mr K. Gudsell in partnership with her Springston trainer, R. H. Negus. Roydon Star is a halfsister to Scottish Star, Night Wind and Celestial, all of which won at' the pacing gait. Showed Speed Dozer, a very strong favourite. 1 lost his chance when he broke badly at the start of the Tekapo Handicap. He lost at least half a furlong and showed a tremendous burst of speed to be seventh racing to the straight. Not surprisingly, he began to tire soon after and he was eleventh at the post. Dozer’s run to join the rear ; of the field showed that he has much more than average ability • Saturday’s race was his third appearance at a totalisator meeting He is booked to race at the Marlborough meeting and the travelling and racing there should dr much to settle him down.* Once he learns to begin properly, he should be a big winner. He is a four-year-old gelding by Highland Chief from Queen Mario. He is raced in partnership by Mr R. D. Butterick and the Yaldhurst trainer, N. L. Berkett. Meeting Postponed The £6OOO Harold Park Cup, which was to have been run in Sydney last Friday, will now be run this Friday. Heavy rain on Friday caused the meeting to be postponed for one week. The postponement will enhance the chances of the New Zealand pacer. False Step, which arrived in Australia early last week. The extra week should help him to become accustomed to Australian conditions. Sibelia, a half-sister by Sky Raider to Petite Yvonne, and Highand Jan, a daughter of Highland Fling and Battle Raid, were two of the early favourites for the race. Other New Zealand-bred horses in the race are Grand Monarch (Light Brigade-Safari), Victory Dale (Sandydale-Illana), Young Wexford (Young Bob-Wexford Rose) and First Variety (AttackVariety Girl).